Cable pass-through panel for electronic equipment enclosure

Abstract

An electronic equipment enclosure includes a frame structure and at least one panel secured to the frame structure. The at least one panel includes one or more panel knockouts arranged therein. Each panel knockout is configured to be removable from the at least one panel to provide a pass-through opening for a cable. The at least one panel further includes a split brush assembly seated in place of a removed one of the one or more panel knockouts.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for installing a panel in an electronic equipment enclosure, the method comprising:
 providing a panel having an offset edge disposed at a first end thereof and having an end flange disposed adjacent a second end thereof, opposite the first end, wherein the end flange includes:
 a first portion extending downwardly from an underside of the panel, 
 a second portion extending from the first portion and oriented at an angle relative to the first portion, and 
 an aperture extending through the first portion; 
 
 positioning the panel relative to a frame structure of an electronic equipment enclosure such that the offset edge slides underneath or inside a member of the frame structure; 
 engaging the second portion of the end flange against a free end of a spring pin mounted to the frame structure; 
 applying a force to the panel so that the second portion of the end flange causes the free end of the spring pin to move from an undeflected condition to a deflected condition; and 
 maneuvering the panel so that the free end of the spring pin is aligned with the aperture extending through the first portion of the end flange, thereby permitting the free end of the spring pin to spring back, through the aperture, from the deflected condition to the undeflected condition, and thereby securing the panel in an installed position relative to the frame structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is installed atop the electronic equipment enclosure. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is installed at a side of the electronic equipment enclosure. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is installed at a bottom of the electronic equipment enclosure. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel includes one or more panel knockouts, each of which is removable to provide a pass-through opening for a cable. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein boundaries defining the shape of each of the one or more panel knockouts are laser-cut. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising permanently removing one of the one or more panel knockouts by punching along the boundary thereof. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising replacing the removed panel knockout with a split brush assembly. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein replacing the removed panel knockout with a split brush assembly includes snap-fitting the split brush assembly to the panel. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein replacing the removed panel knockout with a split brush assembly includes attaching the split brush assembly to the panel with fasteners. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the panel includes one or more panel sub-knockouts, each of which is removable to provide a pass-through opening for a cable. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein boundaries defining the shape of each of the one or more panel sub-knockouts are laser-cut. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising permanently removing one of the one or more panel sub-knockouts by punching along the boundary thereof. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising replacing the removed panel sub-knockout with a vent. 
     
     
       15. A method for installing a panel in an electronic equipment enclosure, the method comprising:
 providing a panel having an offset edge disposed at a first end thereof and having an end flange that extends downwardly from an underside of the panel at a location inset from an edge of a second end thereof, opposite the first end, the end flange having an aperture therein; 
 positioning the panel relative to a frame structure of an electronic equipment enclosure such that the offset edge slides underneath or inside a member of the frame structure; 
 engaging the end flange against a free end of a cantilever-type spring pin, separate from the end flange and mounted to the frame structure; 
 applying a force to the panel so that the end flange causes the free end of the cantilever-type spring pin to move from an undeflected condition to a deflected condition; and 
 maneuvering the panel so that the free end of the cantilever-type spring pin is aligned with the aperture extending through the end flange, thereby permitting the free end of the cantilever-type spring pin to spring back, through the aperture, from the deflected condition to the undeflected condition, and thereby securing the panel in an installed position relative to the frame structure. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the panel is installed atop the electronic equipment enclosure. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the panel is installed at a side of the electronic equipment enclosure. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the panel is installed at a bottom of the electronic equipment enclosure. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the panel includes one or more panel knockouts, each of which is removable to provide a pass-through opening for a cable. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising permanently removing one of the one or more panel knockouts by punching along a boundary thereof.